Interface

ABSTRACT

An interface is for connecting a first electronic component to a network of a plurality of electronic components. The first electronic component is implemented as a telecommunication terminal. A second electronic component connected to the network is implemented as a reproduction or processing device for data of the telecommunication terminal. The interface transmits the data between the reproduction or processing device and the telecommunication terminal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an interface for connectingelectronic components.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Interfaces are used for connecting a first electronic component to anetwork of a plurality of electronic components in a motor vehicle. Forexample, an air-conditioning system may be connected as an electroniccomponent via a control unit to a vehicle bus, such as a CAN bus, towhich further electronic components, such as a keypad or other inputunit, may be connected.

SUMMARY

The interface according to the present invention includes a firstelectronic component implemented as a telecommunication terminal, and asecond electronic component connected to the network implemented as areproduction device or as a processing device for data of thetelecommunication terminal. The interface transmits the data between thereproduction or processing device and the telecommunication terminal. Inthis way, the reproduction or processing device and thetelecommunication terminal are connected to the network of theelectronic components and may thus communicate with these electroniccomponents. Furthermore, an existing network of electronic components ina motor vehicle may also be used for connecting a reproduction orprocessing device and a telecommunication terminal and may thus havetheir functionality expanded. Separate wiring and/or a direct linkbetween the reproduction or processing device and the telecommunicationterminal is then not necessary. The integration of the reproduction orprocessing device and the telecommunication terminal into an existingnetwork of electronic components also only requires a small outlay,particularly if a pre-existing control unit for connecting an electroniccomponent, such as the air-conditioning system and/or the keypad of aninput unit in a motor vehicle, is also used for connecting thereproduction or processing device and/or the telecommunication terminalto the network of the electronic components and thus has itsfunctionality enhanced.

An interface module may be provided for wireless connection of thetelecommunication terminal. In this way, the expense for cabling betweenthe telecommunication terminal and the network is dispensed with.

According to an example embodiment, the interface includes a controllerthat controls the exchange of data between the reproduction orprocessing device and the telecommunication terminal via the interfacemodule. The data exchange between both of the components connected tothe network is ensured and a functional unit is formed between thetelecommunication terminal and the reproduction or processing device.

In an example embodiment, the interface transmits the data in digitalform between the reproduction or processing device and thetelecommunication terminal. Digital transmission between thetelecommunication terminal and the interface is then supported, so thatno analog data transmission is necessary between interface and thereproduction or processing device.

According to an example embodiment, a third electronic component isimplemented as an input unit, the input unit is connected to thenetwork, and the interface receives setting and/or selection parametersvia the input unit and transmits them to the reproduction or processingdevice or to the telecommunication terminal. An already existing inputunit which is connected to the network may also be used for controllingthe telecommunication terminal and/or the reproduction or processingdevice, so that the functionality of the input unit is enhanced. Inaddition, it is then no longer necessary to use an input unit of thetelecommunication terminal. This may be advantageous for use in a motorvehicle, if the user of the telecommunication terminal and thereproduction or processing device is to be distracted as little aspossible from the street traffic, and the input unit connected to thenetwork is located in the front of the vehicle, near the steering wheel.

The controller may be configured to output a query signal to theinterface module at predetermined times, such as periodically, in orderto check for the presence of the telecommunication terminal. This mayallow automatic coupling of the telecommunication terminal to thenetwork via the interface module. This may enhance the operating comfortfor the user.

Upon detecting the telecommunication terminal, the controller may beconfigured to output an initialization signal to the reproduction orprocessing device and to the interface module for transmission to thetelecommunication terminal, in order to transfer the voice input/outputfunctionality to the reproduction or processing device. This may allowthe voice input/output functionality to be automatically switched overfrom the telecommunication terminal to the reproduction or processingdevice without requiring a user action. This also may enhance theoperating comfort for the user.

The controller may be configured to output a deinitialization signal tothe reproduction or processing device in order to end the voiceinput/output functionality of the reproduction or processing device fortelecommunication links as soon as the controller detects the absence ofthe telecommunication terminal upon the query signal. In this way, thevoice input/output functionality of the reproduction or processingdevice is automatically switched off without a user action beingnecessary.

In addition, an audio device may be connected to the network as a fourthelectronic component and the controller may output a muting signal tothe audio device if audio signals are exchanged between the reproductionor processing device and the telecommunication terminal via theinterface module. The reproduction of audio signals of the audio devicemay be muted for the duration of a telephone conversation via thetelecommunication terminal, so that the user is not distracted from thetelephone conversation. The muting is performed automatically in thiscase without a user action being necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of the interfaceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of the interfaceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an example mode of operation of a controllerof the interface according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, there is a network 10 having multiple electronic components5, 15, 20, 25, which may be positioned in a motor vehicle, for example.In this case, it is therefore assumed for explanatory purposes only thatnetwork 10 is a vehicle network. Vehicle network 10 includes a busdevice 30, for example a CAN bus, to which electronic components 5, 15,20, 25 are connected. In this case, a first electrical component 5 isimplemented as a telecommunication terminal. A second electroniccomponent 15 is implemented as a reproduction or processing device.Optionally, a third electronic component 20 may be provided, which isimplemented as an input unit. In addition, a fourth electronic component25 may also optionally be provided, which is implemented as an audiodevice.

Furthermore, further electronic components may be connected to busdevice 30, which are not, however, illustrated in the exampleembodiments shown in the figures. These may include an enginecontroller, a transmission controller, etc., for example.

In the following example embodiment, reproduction or processing device15 may be implemented as a hands-free voice device.

As shown in FIG. 1, telecommunication terminal 5 is connected to busdevice 30 via an interface 1. In this case, interface 1 includes acontroller 45, which is connected to bus device 30 and to an interfacemodule 35 of interface 1. In the example embodiment described here,telecommunication terminal 5 is implemented as a mobiletelecommunication terminal and includes a first wireless interface 70 inthe form of an antenna for communication with a wirelesstelecommunication network. Furthermore, telecommunication terminal 5includes a second wireless interface 65 for wireless communication withinterface module 35. A wireless link 40 may be established betweeninterface module 35 and second wireless interface 65 in this manner.This wireless link may be implemented according to the Bluetoothstandard, for example. Interface module 35 and second wireless interface65 form a Bluetooth interface in this case. As shown in FIG. 1,hands-free voice device 15 is connected to bus device 30. A loudspeaker75 is connected to hands-free voice device 15 via a digital/analogconverter 50. A microphone 80 is also connected to hands-free voicedevice 15 via an analog/digital converter 60. As shown in FIG. 1, inputunit 20, which may include a keypad which may be positioned on thecockpit or dashboard, e.g., in direct proximity to the steering wheel,is also connected to bus device 30. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 1,audio device 25, which may be a car radio, for example, is alsoconnected to bus device 30. Digital/analog converter 50 and loudspeaker75 also may be contained in audio device 25 as an alternative. In thiscase, digital/analog converter 50 and loudspeaker 75 may be dispensedwith in hands-free voice device 15.

To connect hands-free voice device 15, input unit 20, and audio device25 to bus device 30, a control unit may be provided with each and may beintegrated in electronic components 15, 20, 25 or distinct from them,allowing communication with the other electronic components connected tobus device 30. Alternatively, hands-free voice device 15, input unit 20,and audio device 25 may be connected jointly, together with interfacemodule 35, to bus device 30 via controller 45, the controller 45organizing the communication between interface module 35, hands-freevoice device 15, input unit 20, and audio device 25 in this case andalso allowing communication between electronic components 15, 20, 25, 35and further electronic components connected to bus device 30 via atleast other controller, different from controller 45.

In the event of existing wireless link 40, telecommunication terminal 5is connected as the first electronic component to controller 45 and thusto bus device 30 and to network 10 via interface module 35. Electroniccomponents 15, 20, 25, 35 are interconnected in this case either bytheir shared connection to controller 45 or by their connection to busdevice 30, and form network 10, which also includes further electroniccomponents.

If hands-free voice device 15 for telecommunication terminal 5 is nowused, the audio data received by telecommunication terminal 5 andtransmitted by telecommunication terminal 5 is transmitted via wirelesslink 40. Wireless link 40 may transmit digitally. Controller 45 performsa protocol conversion, such as a pulse code modulation, for example, ofthe digital audio data of telecommunication terminal 5 received byinterface module 35 and transmits the pulse-code modulated audio dataeither via bus device 30 to hands-free voice device 15, as in FIG. 1,or, if hands-free voice device 15 is connected directly to controller45, directly to hands-free voice device 15. After a digital/analogconversion in digital/analog converter 50, the audio data is thenreproduced by loudspeaker 75. Audio and/or voice data of the userreceived by microphone 80 is digitized and pulse-code modulated inanalog/digital converter 60 and transmitted via bus device 30, as shownin FIG. 1, or, if hands-free voice device 15 is connected directly tocontroller 45, directly to controller 45. The pulse-code modulateddigital audio data is demodulated and/or converted to a serial protocolof interface 1 in controller 45 and output to interface module 35 fortransmission to telecommunication terminal 5 via wireless link 40.

In the following, the communication between electronic components 15,20, 25, 35 illustrated in FIG. 1 via bus device 30 is described, inwhich communication occurs between these components when they areconnected directly to controller 45.

Loudspeaker 75 of hands-free voice device 15 may also be used by audiodevice 25. In this case, controller 45 may output a muting signal viabus device 30 to audio device 25 if audio signals are exchanged betweenhands-free voice device 15 and telecommunication terminal 5 viainterface module 35. In this way, audio device 25 may be caused toprevent the output of an audio signal for reproduction via loudspeaker75 of hands-free voice device 15. In this case, the muting signal may betransmitted to audio device 25 only at the beginning of thetelecommunication link, for example, in order to prevent the output ofthe audio signal from audio device 25. As soon as the telecommunicationlink is ended, controller 45 may output a corresponding muting endsignal to audio device 25 via bus device 30, in order to signal to audiodevice 25 that suppression of the audio signal of audio device 25 is nolonger necessary. Alternatively, the muting signal may be output fromcontroller 45 to audio device 25 via bus device 30 during thetelecommunication link, audio device 25 suppressing the output of theaudio signal as long as it receives the muting signal.

The keypad of input unit 20 may be used for the purpose of inputtingsetting and/or selection parameters. The setting parameters may, forexample, include the input of a short message which is to be transmittedvia telecommunication terminal 5 to the wireless telecommunicationnetwork. The short message input on the keypad of input unit 20 isrelayed via bus device 30 to controller 45 in this case and transmittedfrom there to telecommunication terminal 5 via interface module 35 andwireless link 40, from where it is relayed to the wirelesstelecommunication network via first wireless interface 70. Settingparameters may also, however, be parameters for setting the signaling ofan incoming call at telecommunication terminal 5, the setting parametersspecifying whether the signaling is to be performed via loudspeaker 75or at telecommunication terminal 5 and how the signaling is to beperformed, i.e., using which tune, for example. Any arbitrary furthersettings for telecommunication links to be established may be input atthe keypad of input unit 20 and transmitted via bus device 30 tohands-free voice device 15 or via controller 45 and interface module 35to telecommunication terminal 5 and cause the desired settings athands-free voice device 15 or at telecommunication terminal 5. Thekeypad of input unit 20 may be implemented as an alphanumeric keypadthat allows the input of selection parameters, for example, for theinput of a telephone number, this telephone number also beingtransmitted to telecommunication terminal 5 via bus device 30,controller 45, interface module 35, and wireless link 40, so thattelecommunication terminal 5 may establish the desired telecommunicationlink using the dialed telephone number. Controller 45 may output a querysignal at predetermined times, periodically, for example, to interfacemodule 35 in order to detect whether interface module 35 is able toreceive signals from second wireless interface 65 of telecommunicationterminal 5 via wireless link 40. As soon as this occurs, interfacemodule 35 communicates this to controller 45, which subsequently causeshands-free voice device 15 to take over the voice input/outputfunctionality for telecommunication terminal 5 via bus device 30 usingan initialization signal. In addition, controller 45 transmits a signalvia interface module 35 and wireless link 40 to telecommunicationterminal 5 in order to interrupt its voice input/output functionality.In this way, telecommunication terminal 5 is automatically interfacedwith hands-free voice device 15, which takes over the voice input/outputfunctionality of telecommunication terminal 5. Telecommunicationterminal 5 is thus connected to network 10. A further initializationsignal is transmitted from controller 45 to input unit 20, so that avoice link or the transmission of a short message may be initiated frominput unit 20.

A voice link may, however, also be established if a call is received attelecommunication terminal 5. This is communicated via wireless link 40and interface module 35 to controller 45, which, for example, causessignaling through loudspeaker 75 of hands-free voice device 15. In thiscase, due to the suppression of the voice input/output functionality oftelecommunication terminal 5, the signaling there may also besuppressed. The incoming call may be accepted by appropriate keyoperation at input unit 20 and is output via bus device 30, controller45, and interface module 35, using wireless link 40, totelecommunication terminal 5 for relay to the wireless telecommunicationnetwork. The voice link may now take place as described via wirelesslink 40 and hands-free voice device 15.

Furthermore, controller 45 may output the query signal to interfacemodule 35 at the predetermined times, periodically, for example, inorder to check whether interface module 35 is still receiving wirelesssignals from telecommunication terminal 5. This query is performedindependently of whether or not a telecommunication link has beenestablished.

Second wireless interface 65 of telecommunication terminal 5 emitscontrol information, which may be received within the range of secondwireless interface 65, at predetermined times, periodically, forexample. Interface module 35 checks in this case whether it has receivedsuch control information and, in the event of receiving such controlinformation, detects the presence of telecommunication terminal 5, whichit communicates to controller 45 upon its query signal. As soon asinterface module 35 receives the control information oftelecommunication terminal 5, it in turn transmits a wirelessacknowledgment signal to telecommunication terminal 5, which is receivedby the terminal via second wireless interface 65 and communicated totelecommunication terminal 5 that wireless link 40 may be establishedbetween second wireless interface 65 and interface module 35. As soon astelecommunication terminal 5 no longer receives wireless acknowledgmentsignals from interface module 35 via second wireless interface 65, itswitches its voice input/output functionality back on and is usable as acomplete telecommunication terminal 5. There are two possible reasonsfor not receiving the acknowledgment signals of interface module 35 insecond wireless interface 65 of telecommunication terminal 5: first, itmay be that if telecommunication terminal 5 is distant from interfacemodule 35, interface module 35 no longer receives the controlinformation of telecommunication terminal 5, and therefore also nolonger transmits wireless acknowledgment signals to telecommunicationterminal 5; second, it may be that the range of telecommunicationterminal 5 is greater than the range of interface module 35, i.e.,interface module 35 still receives the control information oftelecommunication terminal 5 and generates corresponding wirelessacknowledgment signals and transmits them back to telecommunicationterminal 5, but the wireless acknowledgment signals are no longerreceived by telecommunication terminal 5. In both cases, wireless link40 is no longer maintained and telecommunication terminal 5 receives itsfull voice input/output functionality again and is usable independentlyof hands-free voice device 15. Telecommunication terminal 5 is then toofar from interface module 35 for the wireless link 40 to be implemented.This is the case, for example, if the user at telecommunication terminal5 leaves his vehicle and takes telecommunication terminal 5 with him.

If interface module 35 no longer receives control information fromtelecommunication terminal 5, it communicates this in a response to acorresponding query signal of controller 45, which subsequently outputsa deinitialization signal to hands-free voice device 15 via bus device30, in order to end the voice input/output functionality of hands-freevoice device 15 for telecommunication links. Correspondingly, controller45 transmits a deinitialization signal to input unit 20 via bus device30, in order to end the functionality of input unit 20 for inputting thesetting and/or selection parameters.

A second example embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 2, in which identical reference numbers identify identical elementsas in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the second example embodiment differsfrom the first example embodiment in that a separate line 55 is providedfor transmitting analog audio data between hands-free voice device 15and controller 45. For this purpose, controller 45 is connected tohands-free voice device 15 via digital/analog converter 50 and viaanalog/digital converter 60. In the second example embodiment, thedigital audio data received from telecommunication terminal 5 incontroller 45 is converted by digital/analog converter 50 into analogaudio data and output via line 55 to hands-free voice device 15 forreproduction at loudspeaker 75. Correspondingly, the analog audio datareceived by microphone 80 is transmitted via line 55 to analog/digitalconverter 60, converted there into digital audio data and relayed tocontroller 45, from where it is output to telecommunication terminal 5via interface module 35. As in the first example embodiment, in thesecond example embodiment the digital audio data received intelecommunication terminal 5 from interface module 35 is transmitted viafirst wireless interface 70 to the wireless telecommunication network.Conversely, the digital audio data received from the wirelesstelecommunication network in telecommunication terminal 5 via firstwireless interface 70 is transmitted via second wireless interface 65,wireless link 40, and interface module 35 to controller 45.

Line 55 may be implemented with two wires for the different transmissiondirections, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Control data such as theinitialization signals is then transmitted via bus device 30, while theaudio signals are transmitted via line 55.

Conversely, interface module 35, rather than telecommunication terminal5, may emit the control information in the form of query information atpredetermined times, periodically, for example, for the detection of atelecommunication terminal 5 located near interface module 35, andtelecommunication terminal 5 may emit a corresponding wirelessacknowledgment signal each time it receives this query information viasecond wireless interface 65, which is received in turn by interfacemodule 35. If interface module 35 receives such a wirelessacknowledgement signal, it communicates to controller 45 on thecorresponding query signal that a wireless link 40 may be established totelecommunication terminal 5. The initialization procedure described issubsequently performed, in which the voice input/output functionality istransferred from telecommunication terminal 5 to hands-free voice device15. If telecommunication terminal 5 is too far from interface module 35to receive the query information via second wireless interface 65, thena wireless acknowledgment signal is also no longer emitted bytelecommunication terminal 5. Interface module 35 then does not receivesuch a wireless acknowledgment signal and communicates to controller 45on the corresponding query signal so that it is then not possible toestablish a wireless link 40 to telecommunication terminal 5.Subsequently, controller 45 initiates the deinitialization proceduredescribed, in which the voice input/output functionality is ended fortelecommunication links at hands-free voice device 15. Correspondingly,the voice input/output functionality of telecommunication terminal 5 isautomatically reactivated by this terminal if no further queryinformation is received from interface module 35 in telecommunicationterminal 5 within a predetermined period of time from the last queryinformation received.

If an existing telecommunication link to the wireless telecommunicationnetwork using wireless link 40 is ended by input at input unit 20,corresponding end control information is transmitted from input unit 20via bus device 30 to controller 45, which subsequently communicates tohands-free voice device 15 via bus device 30 and to telecommunicationterminal 5 via interface module 35 and wireless link 40 that theexisting telecommunication link is to be ended, The telecommunicationterminal 5 then initiates the termination of the telecommunication linkto the wireless telecommunication network. In addition, controller 45transmits a corresponding control signal via bus device 30 to audiodevice 25, in order to end the muting of audio device 25. Alternatively,a transmission of the muting signal from controller 45 via bus device 30to audio device 25 that is performed continuously during thetelecommunication link may be ended. If the conversation is ended fromthe wireless telecommunication network, then a corresponding statusreport occurs from telecommunication terminal 5 via wireless link 40 andinterface module 35 to controller 45, which relays this information tothe voice device 15 via bus device 30 and also ends the muting of audiodevice 25 in the manner described above.

In the following, the mode of operation of controller 45 is explained onthe basis of a flowchart with reference to FIG. 3. At program point 100,controller 45 transmits a query signal to interface module 35 in orderto check whether wireless link 40 to telecommunication terminal 5 may beestablished. Subsequently, the sequence branches to a program point 105.At program point 105, controller 45 checks whether interface module 35has communicated, in response to the query signal, that wireless link 40to telecommunication terminal 5 may be established. If this is the case,the sequence branches to a program point 115; otherwise the sequencebranches to a program point 110. At program point 110, a predeterminedwaiting time elapses. Subsequently, the sequence branches back toprogram point 100. The initialization described, in which the voiceinput/output functionality is switched off at telecommunication terminal5 upon the command of controller 45 and is transferred to hands-freevoice device 15, is performed at program point 115. Furthermore,controller 45 also causes the initialization of input unit 20 asdescribed above, in order to be able to operate telecommunicationterminal 5 via input unit 20. Subsequently, the sequence branches to aprogram point 120. At program point 120, controller 45 checks whether atelecommunication link to the wireless telecommunication network viatelecommunication terminal 5 is to be established or is still inprogress. If this is the case, the sequence branches to a program point125; otherwise the sequence branches to a program point 135. At programpoint 125, controller 45 informs both telecommunication terminal 5 andhands-free voice device 15 about the planned establishment of a link ifit originates from input unit 20 as described above, and solelyhands-free voice device 15 if the planned link establishment isinitiated from the wireless telecommunication network. Furthermore,controller 45 causes the muting of audio device 25. Subsequently, thesequence branches to a program point 130 at which controller 45 checkswhether the telecommunication link was ended from input unit 20 or fromthe wireless telecommunication network. If this is the case, thesequence branches to a program point 145; otherwise it branches to aprogram point 135. At program point 135, controller 45 checks whethersetting and/or selection parameters were input at input unit 20. If thisis the case, the sequence branches to a program point 140; otherwise itbranches back to program point 120. At program point 140, the settingand/or selection parameters received by controller 45 via bus device 30are analyzed, the selection parameters, which may include a telephonenumber to be dialed, being transmitted via wireless link 40 totelecommunication terminal 5 with the request to establish a link to thecorresponding telephone number and the setting parameters beingtransmitted from controller 45 to telecommunication terminal 5 or tohands-free voice device 15, depending on whether the setting is to beperformed at telecommunication terminal 5 or at hands-free voice device15. If the setting parameters are a request input by the user at inputunit 20 to cancel existing muting, controller 45 causes audio device 25to cancel the muting in the way described via bus device 30.Subsequently, the sequence branches back to program point 120. Atprogram point 145, controller 45 communicates to hands-free voice device15 that the telecommunication link is currently ended. If thetelecommunication link is ended at input unit 20, controller 45 alsoinforms telecommunication terminal 5 via wireless link 40 that thetelecommunication link has been ended. Furthermore, controller 45 causesthe cancellation of the muting of audio device 25 as described above.

Subsequently, the sequence branches to a program point 150 at whichcontroller 45 checks whether interface module 35 is still detectingtelecommunication terminal 5 as present on the basis of the analysis ofthe query signal. If this is the case, the sequence branches back toprogram point 120; otherwise it branches to a program point 155. Atprogram point 155, controller 45 causes deinitialization using thedeinitialization signals transmitted via bus device 30 to hands-freevoice device 15 and input unit 20.

The conversation end at program point 130 may also be detected bycontroller 45 in that, in response to a query signal, interface module35 informs controller 45 that telecommunication terminal 5 is absent,i.e., wireless link 40 is terminated. After program point 155, theprogram is exited.

During a telecommunication link, telecommunication terminal 5 remainsactive as a wireless transceiver unit for connection to the wirelesstelecommunication network. This network may be a GSM network (globalsystem for mobile communications), a UMTS network (universal mobiletelecommunication system), for example. Wireless link 40 may be operatedin a different frequency range than the wireless link betweentelecommunication terminal 5 and the wireless telecommunication network,so that no mutual interference occurs. This is ensured if the Bluetoothstandard is used for wireless link 40 and a GSM or a UMTS wireless linkis used between telecommunication terminal 5 and the wirelesstelecommunication network.

The connection between controller 45 and interface module 35 may beproduced via a serial interface.

Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, a further reproductiondevice, a display device, may be provided as a fifth electroniccomponent and may be connected to bus device 30 or directly tocontroller 45. The display device may also be initialized and/ordeinitialized by controller 45 for displaying telecommunication-relevantdata, such as text or graphic data of a text or graphic message, as wasdescribed for input unit 20, for example. Then, for example, text datareceived in interface module 35 via wireless link 40 fromtelecommunication terminal 5, SMS (short message service) messages, forexample, if the GSM standard is used, or graphic data, may be reproducedon the display device.

In addition, a navigation system may be connected as a processing deviceto bus device 30 or directly to controller 45 as the sixth electroniccomponent to process traffic information received by interface module 35from the wireless telecommunication network via telecommunicationterminal 5 and wireless link 40. The navigation system may also beinitialized and deinitialized by controller 45 in the manner describedfor input unit 20 to receive such information. It is then possible toreproduce or display navigation information for routing, for example,via the display device.

The text or graphics data and/or the traffic information is relayed fromcontroller 45 via bus device 30 and/or directly to the display deviceand/or the navigation system for display and/or processing. The displaydevice and/or the navigation system are also initialized in this case,i.e., set for receiving and processing corresponding data attelecommunication terminal 5, as long as telecommunication terminal 5 isdetected as present by interface module 35. Due to wireless link 40,telecommunication terminal 5 no longer needs to be operated by the userfor a telecommunication link and may therefore remain in a pocket of theuser, for example. Cabling between hands-free voice device 15 andtelecommunication terminal 5 is not necessary or simply uses a cable forsupplying a battery charging voltage. The transmission of all the data,i.e., audio data and control data, between the individual electroniccomponents via bus device 30 or directly via controller 45 may beperformed digitally, with the exception of the analog transmission ofthe audio data between interface 1 and hands-free voice device 15described in FIG. 2. Wireless link 40 is in a frequency range atapproximately 2.4 GHz if the Bluetooth standard is used. The settingand/or selection parameters input at the keypad of input unit 20 aretransmitted by input unit 20 in digital form to bus device 30 ordirectly to controller 45. Telecommunication terminal 5 may beimplemented as a wireless device, as a mobile telephone, as anorganizer, as a personal digital assistant (PDA), as a personal computer(PC), or as a notebook with an appropriate wireless interface to thewireless telecommunication network.

Alternatively, telecommunication terminal 5 may not include a wirelessinterface to the wireless telecommunication network and thecommunication may be performed with the electronic components of network10 via wireless link 40 and interface 1. In this case as well, the dataexchanged via wireless link 40 may be audio data, text data, graphicdata, or control information. In this case, telecommunication terminal 5may be implemented as an organizer, as a personal digital assistant(PDA), as a personal computer (PC), or as a notebook, but without awireless interface to the wireless telecommunication network.

1. An interface configured to connect a telecommunication terminal to avehicle network having a plurality of electronic components, theplurality of electronic components including an audio device connectedto the network and at least one of a reproduction device and aprocessing device, the at least one of a reproduction and a processingdevice being separate from the audio device, the interface comprising:an arrangement configured to transmit data between the at least one of areproduction and a processing device and the telecommunication terminal;and a controller configured to control exchange of data between the atleast one of a reproduction and a processing device and thetelecommunication terminal, and to arbitrate access to the at least oneof a reproduction and a processing device by assigning access to thetelecommunication terminal when access is simultaneously requested bythe telecommunication terminal and the audio device, wherein theplurality of electronic components includes an input unit connected tothe vehicle network, the interface configured to receive at least one ofsetting and selection parameters input via the input unit and totransmit the at least one of setting and selection parameters to one ofthe at least one of a reproduction and a processing device and thetelecommunication terminal, and wherein the interface is furtherconfigured to receive graphic data from the telecommunication terminal,and to reproduce the graphic data on a display device.
 2. The interfaceas recited in claim 1, further comprising: an interface moduleconfigured to provide a wireless link to the telecommunication terminal.3. The interface as recited in claim 2, wherein the wireless linkbetween the telecommunication terminal and the interface module includesa Bluetooth link.
 4. The interface as recited in claim 2, wherein thecontroller is configured to control exchange of data between the atleast one of a reproduction and a processing device and thetelecommunication terminal via the interface module.
 5. The interface asrecited in claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to output aquery signal to the interface module at predetermined times to check forpresence of the telecommunication terminal.
 6. The interface as recitedin claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to output the querysignal to the interface module periodically.
 7. The interface as recitedin claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to output aninitialization signal to the at least one of a reproduction and aprocessing device and to the interface module for transmission to thetelecommunication terminal upon detection of the telecommunicationterminal to enable transfer of voice input/output functionality to theat least one of a reproduction and a processing device.
 8. The interfaceas recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to output adeinitialization signal to the at least one of a reproduction and aprocessing device to deactivate the voice input/output functionality ofthe at least one of a reproduction and a processing device fortelecommunication links as soon as the controller detects absence of thetelecommunication terminal in response to the query signal.
 9. Theinterface as recited in claim 4, wherein the controller is configured toperform the assigning by outputting a muting signal to the audio devicewhen audio signals are exchanged between the at least one of areproduction and a processing device and the telecommunication terminalvia the interface module.
 10. The interface as recited in claim 2,further comprising: a digital/analog converter configured to convertdigital audio data received from the interface module into analog audiodata; and a line; wherein the at least one of a reproduction and aprocessing device includes a hands-free voice device, the line arrangedbetween the interface and the hands-free voice device, the lineconfigured to transmit the analog audio data between the hands-freevoice device and the interface.
 11. The interface as recited in claim 2,further comprising: an analog/digital converter; wherein the at leastone of a reproduction and a processing device includes a hands-freevoice device and the analog/digital converter is configured to convertanalog audio data received from the hands-free voice device into digitalaudio data.
 12. The interface as recited in claim 1, wherein thearrangement configured to transmit data is configured to transmit datain digital form between the at least one of a reproduction and aprocessing device and the telecommunication terminal.
 13. The interfaceas recited in claim 12, wherein the arrangement configured to transmitdata is configured to transmit data modulated in accordance with a pulsecode modulation method.